Magnetic recording and reproducing equipment



July 26, 1960 E. BEYER MAGNETIC RECORDING AND REPRoDucING EQUIPMENT Filed July 21, 195s 4 Sheets-Sheet l .IFII

July 26, 1960 E. BEYER 2,946,593

MAGNETIC RECORDING AND REPRODUCING EQUIPMENT Filed July 2l, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 744 15s /ff 164 JMW:

July 26, 1960 l E. BEYER 2,946,593

MAGNETIC RECORDING AND REPRODUCING EQUIPMENT Filed July 21, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 "HIHNIIINIIllllll||llilllllllllllllllllIIIIIIIIIIIIllilllllll' 37 JMW;

July 26, 1960 E. BEYER 2,946,593

MAGNETIC RECORDING AND REPRODUCING EQUIPMENT Filed July 21, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States hatent Q MAGNETIC RECRDING AND REPRODUCING EQUIPMENT Eugen Beyer, llismarckstr. 107, Heilbronn (Neckar), Germany Filed July 21, 1953, Ser. No. 369,384

Claims priority, application Germany `luly 21, 1952 clams. (c1. 274-4) The invention relates to magnetic recording and reproducing equipment, in particular equipment using ilexible rectangular magnetic record sheets. The invention, moreover, is especially concerned with a machine of the type mentioned adapted for oice dictation purposes.

The magnetic scanning devices of known construction have motion adapted to scan a helical tracl; on the record sheet with the turns of the helix crossing the lapped edges of the sheet. After making a recording, the recorded intelligence may be transcribed, or the sheet may be removed for subsequent reinsertion for playing back, either in the same or a similar machine. Upon playback the magnetic head previously used for scanning is adapted to be used as a reproducing head. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel type of mounting for the record sheet.

lt is 'a further object of the invention to provide a recording and reproducing machine for record sheets into which such sheets may be fed without interrupting the recording or reproducing faculties. p

lt is still an additional object of the invention to have the machine run at even speed for recording, reproduction, loading and unloading.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a fast and reliable device for feeding and ejecting record sheets. i

With the foregoing objects in view, the invention consists of a machine for use with magnetic llexible record sheets, a rotatable supporting member adapted to transport a record during scanning, a magnetic scanning head adapted to engage a record so supported and positioned to subsequently scan a single path on the record, a mounting for said head, said head being adapted to transversely slide along said mounting during scanning, the circumference of the supporting member being of such a length that the edges of a record do not overlap but slide on an arcuate guide means so that the record is discharged when an outlet in the guide means is opened.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, beth as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional obiects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection withv the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic side View of a machine according to the invention with one side cover removed,

iFig. l2 is a front View on line 2-2 of Fig. l,

yFig. 3 is a part section of a loaded drum on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 4 is a side view of a first member of a holding arrangement as seen from line 4.-4 of Pig. 5 on an enlarged scale as compared to Figs. l and 2, i

Fig. 5 is a front view of the holding arrangement on the same scale as Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a side view of a second holding member as speen from line of Fig. 5 on the same scale as Figs. 4 and 5,

Fig. 7 is a part sectional view of a loading arrangement detail with the drum being unloaded,

Y Fig. 8 is a part section according to Fig. 7 with the drum being loaded,

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section through a further embodiment of a loading and unloading arrangement.

Referring now to the drawing the machine is enclosed in acasing having a bottom plate 10, side plates 11 and 12, a front plate 13 and a rear plate 14, the entire casing being mounted on rubber feet 15. Mounted on the front plate 13 of the casing is the electrical equipment 16 of the machine which may be supplied with electric energy by a cord 17. On the front plate 13 also a microphone 18 and the loudspeaker 18a are attached. As the entire electrical equipment forms no part of the invention it Will not be described any further.

Mounted on a bracket 19a secured to a mounting plate 19 is an electrical motor 20 supplied with electric energy through leads 21. The shaft 22 of the motor carries a pulley 23 which is adapted to drive by means of a cord 32 a sheave 24 fixed to a drum 25 and two sheaves 26 and 27 attached to rolls 2S and 29 which are rotatably arranged on axes 30 and 31. The purpose of these rolls will be explained further down. Y

The aforementioned drum 25 is together with sheave 24 rotatably mounted on an axis 32.11 fastened to the mounting plate 19 at 25a and is tted with a pair of end flanges 33 which are clearly visible in Fig. 2, the flanges serving -as positioning elements for the record sheet wrapped about the drum. The drum is formed of a nonmagnetic material and carries a resilient surfacing indicated at 34. Arranged on both sides of the drum are guiding rings 3S and 36 which are rigidly held together by bolts 37 yand screws 38 and also fastened by these means to the mounting plate 19. The shape of these rings which may best be seen from Figs. 4 to 6 issuch that an inner edge 40 and 41 is spaced from the surface 34 of the drum a distance somewhat greater than the thickness of the recording sheet indicated at in Fig. l and at 98 in Fig. 3.

Slidably and swingably arranged on a shaft 43 is a scanning head 44 biased towards the drum by means not shown to which a pair of conductors 4S is attached, said conductors connecting the scanning head 44 with the electrical equipment 16. The scanning head is transversely slidably arranged on a rod 112 fastened at I113 to the mounting plate 19. The scanning head 44 has a sliding shoe 44a and is fitted with a projection 46 which is adapted to close contact points 47 and 4.3 attached to leaf springs 49 and Sil, the latter being mounted on an insulating support 51, with conductors 52 and S3 attached to the leaf springs which connect the springs and thus the contact points 47 and 4S to a coil S4 arranged on a magnetic core 5S attached to a support 56. A source of electric energy is provided at 54a.

Guiding rings 35 `and 36 have slots 57 and 58 through Which the record sheets may pass for loading and slots 59 and 60 through which the sheet may pass when being ejected. Slot 59 of ring 35 is during operation of the machine closed by an arm 61 of a latch 61/62 rotatably arranged on a fulcrum 63 whose other arm 62 made of soft iron may be attracted by core 55 when coil 54 is energized. A compression spring 64 held on its lower side on a support 65 is `adapted to push latch 61/ 62 into its closed position with a stop member 66 limiting the motion.

The record sheets to be fed into the machine are stored on a reservoir 67 mounted to the casing at 68 and having a crosswise disposed aperture 69, one sheet 90 being fed according -to Fig. 1. A roller 70 is rotatably mounted support 77, said spring being adapted to turn theA bell cranks in clockwise direction according to Fig. and thus lift the roller70 away from the reservoir 67 with a stop member 76a limiting the motion yof the bell cranks. `An

electromagnet consisting of a core 78 and a coil 79fis` Yadapted when energized to swing the bell cranks 72/73 in anti-clockwise direction against the ac-tion of spring 76. A source of energy to the electromagnet is provided at 7 9a.

The sheet 30 which is being ejected yas seein in Fig. l passes along a guiding plate 31 and is deposited inA a storage container S2 secured to the casingat 83a Vwhere a plurality of sheets is already deposited as may be seen from Fig. l. leaf spring 83 having a feeler pressing on'saidrsheetfand carrying a Contact point 84 opposite of which a second contact point 85 fixed to a leaf spring 86 is arranged, `the leaf springs being securedV to an insulating support V57' and connected by a conductor 88 to coil 79 and by a Y Vconductor 89 to the source of electric energy 79a, from which a Vconductor 91 leads to la further electromagnet which is 'connected by conductor 92 to coil 79.

This electromagnet is equipped with a coil 93 secured to a rod 94a fastened toV mounting plate 19 byV a bracket 94 and is iitted with a core 111 connected to the scanning head 44 by means of a link 95.

An erasing head 97 is arranged for erasing the intelligence on the record, said head being known per se and forming no part of the invention. Y

VWhen a record 98 is arranged on the drum (see Fig. 3) the record has the tendency to straighten and in doing so presses with its edges 98a and 9812 against the guiding rings 35 and 36 with the result that the friction between the record sheet 98 and the surface 34 of the drum is great enough to carry the record along with the rotating It will be noted that the Aedges v ejecting of record sheets will no longer function,

Referring now to Figs. 4 to 6 it will be seen that only guiding ring 35 is titted with a latch or closure means 61/62 while guiding ring 36 is provided with a slot 63. A elongated retaining wire element 106 connects the tip of ring 35 to the flange 107 of ring 36 where the wire is secured by means of a screw 16S, the slots 59 and 6d being arranged at different locations of the circumferences of the rings so that the retaining wire is disposed at an angle to the axis of the drum.A This wire insures the retention of the record sheet when closure means61/ 62 is in its closed position as shown in Fig. 4.

The operation of the machine as far as it forms ,part of the invention will now be described.' Y Y When motor 2t) runs at even speed, drum 25, roll 28 and roll 29 will be driven by means of cord 32 at a definite t uniform rate. Assuming that a record sheet 98 isloaded on the drum (Fig. 3) the'latter will carry along the sheet without any slip by the frictional eect on'its surfacet. At thetoutset the recording head 44 will be at the left sidejas shown in Fig. 2 and will ridelin the lhelical Vtracks of therecord sheet'which-isV confined during its'movernent by guide faces40, 41 and by the closed guide portion 61 of closure means 61, 62, wherebyY the head will .continuc spring'76 is attached whose other end is `secured Vto av being on drum 25,'slot S9, it will then dueto its straightening tendency leave the drum through this slot and also slot 60 beneath the elongated wire element 106 \see Fig.

`), pass on to plate 81 and in doing so close contactV points 84 and S5 whereby the circuit for coils 79 and 93 will be completed. Now roll 79 will be pressed upon the sheets in reservoir 67 with the result that the revolving i roll 28 will carry the lowermost recordV sheet along on to drum 25 which is, reached shortly behind the trailing edge of the record sheet Sii being ejected. At the same j such a manner that the head slides back alongV the space During ejection sheet Si! passesbelow a between the two sheets Si? and 9i? or it may be slightly lifted when crossing a sheet, A Y

As soon as the ejected sheet 3d has passed leaf spring 33, due -to the action of roll 29,V contacts 84 and S5 will open, whereupon latch 61/62 returns to its closing pesition under the action of spring 64 and roll 70 is lifted under the action of spring 76. This motion must be iinished shortly Ybefore the leading edge of the sheet 9i? passes slot 59 and 6i?, the former being then closed by latch 61/62. The closing of latch 62 is delayed until the ejected sheet has cleared the outlet. Switch 84, 85 exercises direct control on latch 61, 62 since it actuates the electromagnetic means 93 and thereby shifts the projection 46 which controls through cont-acts 47, 43 the electromagnetic means S4 operating closure latch 61', V62.

In Figs. 7 and 8 a device is shown by means of which it is assured that further sheets rnay not be fed when the drum is loaded. Y

The drum is shown at 12) having at its end a ringshaped recess 131. A guiding ring is shown at 121 having a slot 126 for admission of the record sheet. EFastened to the ring and the casing are two guiding plates 12.2 and 123 forming a channel through which the sheet is passed while being fed, the plates having apertures `124 and 125.

v Secured to the ring 121 is a stop lever 127 which a torsional spring'12 tries `to turn in clockwise direction according to Figs. V7 and 8, said stop lever being pivoted at `.12;9 and being fitted Vwith a projection 130 adapted to pass` through the apertures 122 and 123 into the feeding channel. t

' the drum. The edge 98a of the record sheet easily slides ously-be moved transversely along rod 112 towards the right. At a certain position, i.e. when head 44 has arrived at the right end of the loaded sheet, projection 46 provided on the headV will close the contact points Y47 and 48 and thus close the circuit of coil 54 so that guide portion'61V of closure means 61/62 will beV attracted and underneath headria and cannot be caught in the inlet opening 57, 58 since the edgesof the inlet openings are forwardly inclined to the radial direction for guiding the record sheet to the gaide face dit, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. L Whilst in Figs. l and 2 a fully Vautomatic machine is shown,'rFig. 9 illustrates asemi-automatic loading arrangement.

. A drum is denoted by 14d, the outside surface'layer of the drum by 141 and one of the guiding ringsby'142. the latter having an inlet opening 163 vand an outlet opening at 143 'where the crosswise arranged wire 164i similar to Fig. 5 is seen. A head 14e may he shifted by hand along a rail 1425 by pressing on a lever 146. Two

guiding plates 147 and 148 serveto feed the record sheet Y channels. A small roll 4is rotatably attached to a agresse lever-i156:pivotedfat1157 to parrotthe1frame,1the"lro11 i155 'reaching 'withV its flower surface through 1an aperture 158 I'into the'feeding channel. Aresilient wire164 at- "t-achedwto lever-156 is connected to a rod 159 carrying -a-push button 165 vwith a lever 160 pivoted to that rod V at`161, -said lever 160bein`g` pivotally connected to ring `V`142, 4at-1'66. 'Af latch 167 shown 'indot-dash lines cor- -respondingto latch 61/62 of Figs. 1 to 7 to closethe ejecting aperture of a vguiding ring is pivoted at 168y and connected Ito l`lever60`by means of a link 169. A tori sional spring 171 attempts to turn lever 169 in anti- -clo'c'kwiseldirection according to 'Fig 9 with a stop member- -170-limiting this motion.

When A'a new record-sheet is to be inserted saidshcet is fed into the channel between plates 1147 and 148 whereupon the push button 155 'is depressed, said button "swinging lever 156and roll 155 downward by'rneans of 'wire164 so .that the record sheetis gripped and fed forward. At the'same time latch 167 isopene'd'so that the loaded sheet will veject 'through slot 143 into the channel between plates `1.49 vand 150. This action' continues` even though'the -push button is released until the one sheetis ejected andthe next one loaded, because the -drum will `carry the ingoing sheet and roll y151the'outgoing Vsheet along. The scanning head`144may be re- :turned by hand by lifting and pushing lever 160.

Fiheinvention may be employed toadvantage in vcon- `nection with sheets Vof the same type of helical tracks, which necessitates the returning of Ythe scanning head `to rits 'initial position, or Vof sheets'having helical tracks of'opposite vhands being alternately fed into the machine. Yr In'the latter case the scanning 'head will start at the -newsheet at the place whereit has finished scanning the last sheet.

The distance between the leading and the trailing edges ofa kloaded record 'may be considerable iand at least so lgreat that Vthe -distance corresponds to 17% of a second lscanning time.

As 'will be seen `from the foregoing, the speeds of 'the'loaded sheet and of Vthe sheets being fe'dand ejected are equal andit is thus possible to-employ 'the machine `according to the invention for continuous recording 'or reproduction, the operation beingfully automatic,"semi automaticformanual.

lWithout further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the 'gist fof the Apresent linventi'c'nn"that others can :by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various Vapplications without ornittingfeatures that,ffrom tlie 'standpoint of the prior art, Yfairly constitute y"essential characteristics ofthe generic-of vspecilic aspectsof this invention f' and, therefore, such adaptations should and are yintended 'to be comprehended within the meaning and range of'e'cluivalence of the following claims. Y

4What-is'clain'led as newand desired'to be seciired by `Letters 'Patent is:

l. `In an apparatus of the type described, in -com- "bination, rotary transporting means for transporting Y'a flexible resilient record sheet tending to assume a straight position; drive means for rotating said transporting means in vone direction of rotation; guide means vincluding an arcuate guide face surrounding at least an axial section Vof 'said transporting means, said arcuate guide face being spaced in radial direction from said rotary transporting means -a predetermined distance so that the leading and trailing edges of a transported record sheet engage said guide l'face Vduring rotation of said transporting `means while 'being slightly spaced 'apart whereby said record sheet is bent into a curved position, said guide Ymeans having an inlet 'for record sheets, and an outlet for record sheets; and closure means located at said outlet and having a guide portion, said Vclosure means and said guide portion having a closed posi-tion in which said Iguide portion is `spaced in radial direction said predetermined distance -from said transporting means and is ilush with v.said 'gu-ide face and continues the same in said outlet closing 'the lsameso that -insaid closed -position of said closurelmeans a record sheet fed through said -inlet is repeatedly moved by said transporting means valong'said annular guide face and said guide portion, said closure means and said gui-de portion being n'iovalile to a-discharge position in which said guide portion is'located substantially in a tangential plane with respect to 'said `guide face whereby a transported record sheet guided lalong said guide portion is discharged through said outlet; 'and operating means for operating said closure means.

2. In an apparatus of the type described, in combinan tion,'r'otary transporting means for transporting a iieXible resilient record sheet tending to assume a straight position; drive means for rotating said transporting means in one direction of rotation; guide means including an arcuate guide face surrounding at least an axial-section ot' said transporting means, said arcuate guide face being spaced in radial direction from said rotary transporting means 1a predetermined distance so that the leading and trailing edges of a transported record sheet engage `said `guide face during rotation of said transporting means while being slightly spaced apart whereby saidreco'rd sheet is bent into a curved position, said guide means vhaving yan inlet for record sheets, and 'an outlet Vfor record sheets, said guide means further including 'an elongated element iiush with said guide face, said elongated element extending substantially in axial direction of said transporting means inclined'to the axis of same and having one end located yforwardly and the other located rearwardly in direction of rotation of said Ttransporting means, said 'elongated element havingsaidirearwardly located end located `forwardly of Vsaid ontlet and adjacent to same in direction of rotation of said "transporting means; closure means located at said outlet and having a guide portion, said closure means and said guide portion having a closed position in which said guide portion is spaced in radial direction said predetermined kdis'tancerfrom said transporting means and is flush with said guide face 'and continues the same in said outlet closing the same so that 'in said closed position of vsaid closure means a record sheet fed through said inlet is repeatedly moved by saidtransporting means along said annular guide face and said guide portion, lsaid closure means and said guide portion being movable to a disu ycharge yposition `in winch said guide portion is located substantially in a tangential plane with respect to said guide face whereby a transported record sheet guided by said guide portion and by said elongated'eleincnt 'is discharged Ythrough said outlet; and means for operating Vsaid rclosure means.

3. In 'an 'apparatus of the type described, in `corn- -bination, rotary transporting Vmeans for transporting 'a iiexible resilient record sheet tending to assume astraight position, said record sheet having helical groovesgr'driv'e means Afor rotating said transporting means in one direction of rotation; guide means including an arcuate guide `face surrounding at least an axial section of said transporting means, said arcuate guide face being spaced in radial direction from said rotary transporting 'means 'a predetermined distance so that the leading and trailing edges of a transported record sheet engage said guide vface during rotation of said transporting means 'while being slightly spaced apart whereby said record Asheet is bent into a curved position, said guide means --having an inlet 'for record sheets, and an outlet for record sheets; closure means located at said outlet-and having a guide portion, said closure means and said guide portion having a closed position in which Vsaid guide portion is spaced in radial direction said predetermined distance from said transporting means and is hush with said guide vface and continues the same in said outlet closing the same lso that in said closed position of said closure means a 'record sheet fed 'through said vinlet is repeatedly moved by said transporting means along said annular guide face and said guide portion, said closure `means port the record sheet ^7 Y :and said guide portion being movable to a discharge position in which said guide portion is located substantially in atangential plane with respect to said guide face whereby a transportedrecord sheet guided along said guide portion is discharged through said outlet; operating means for operating said closure means; `and a scanning head movable in axial direction of said transporting means between two end positions and having means for vengaging the helical grooves of each transported record sheet so that said scanning head is moved Y, from one of said end positions to the other of said end positions while said transporting means repeatedly transalongsaid guide face and guide portion. Y Y

4. In an apparatus of the type described, in cornbination, rotary transporting means for transporting a Y exible resilient record sheet tending to Vassume a straight position, said record sheet having helical grooves; drive means for rotating said transportingmeans in one direction of rotation; guide means includingan arcuate guide face surrounding at least an axial section of said transporting means, said arcuate guide face being spaced in radial direction from said rotary transporting means a predetermined distance so that the leading and trailing edges of a transported record sheet engage said guide face during rotation of said transporting means while being slightly spaced apart whereby said record sheet is bent into a curved position, said guide means having an inlet for record sheets, and an outlet for record sheets; closure means located at said outlet and having a guide portion, said closure means and said guide portion having 'a closed position in which said guide portion is spaced in radial direction said predetermined distance from said transporting means and is flush with said guide face and continues the same in said outlet so that in said closed position of said closure means a record sheetV Vwith respect. to said guide face whereby a transported record sheet guided along said guide portion Vis discharged through said outlet; operating means for operating said 'closure means; a scanningV head movable inaxial direction of said transporting rneanscbetweenV twoY end positions and having means for engaging the helical grooves of each transported record sheet so that said scanning head is moved Vfrom one of said end positions to the other of said vend positions while said transporting means repeatedly transport the record sheet along said guide face and guide portion; shifting means for returning said scanning head from said other end position to said one end position; and means for actuating said shifting means and including a member adapted to be operated by a record sheet Vdischarged through said outlet so that said shifting means returns saidscanning head when a record sheet is discharged in said discharge position of said closure means,

5. In an apparatus of the Vtype described, in combination, rotary transporting means for transporting a iiexible resilient record sheet tending to assume a straight position, said record sheet having helical grooves; drive means for rotating said transporting means in one direction of rotation; guide means includingran arcuate guide face surrounding at least an axial section of said transportingrmeans, said arcuate guideface being spaced in radial direction from said rotary transporting means a Y `8 Y portion, said closure means and said guide portion having a closed position in which said guide portion is spaced rin radial direction said predetermined distance from said rto a discharge position in which said guide portion is located substantially in a tangential plane with respect to said guide face'whereby a vtransported record sheet guided along said guide portion is discharged through said outlet;`operating means for operating said closure means; a scanning head movable in axial direction of said transporting means between two end positions and having means for engaging the helical grooves of each transported record sheet so that said scanning head is moved from one of said end positions to the other'of said end positions While said transporting means repeatedly transport the record sheet along said guide face and guide portion; shifting means for returning said scanning head from said other Vend position to said one end position; and

.electrical means for actuating said shifting means and said vin one direction of rotation; guide means including a pair of axial spaced guide rings, each guide ring having an arcuate guide f ace surrounding at least an axial section of said transporting means, Vsaid arcuate guide faces being spaced in radial direction from said rotary transporting means a predetermined distance so that the leading and trailing edges of a transported record sheet engage said guide faces during rotation of said transporting means,V while being slightly spaced apart whereby said ,record sheet is bent into a curved position, each guide face having aninlet for record sheets, and an outlet for record sheets; closure means located at one Vof said outlets and having a guide portion, said closure means and said guide portion having a closed-position in which said guide portion is spaced in radial direction said predetermined distance from saidv transporting means and is ush with said guide face and continuesY the same'in said outlet closing the same so that in said closed position of saidclosure means a'record' sheet fed through said inlet is repeatedly moved by said transporting means along said annular guideV tace and said guide portion, said Aclosure means and said guide portion being movable to a discharge position in which said guide portion is located substantially in a tangentialplane with respect to said guide face whereby a transported record sheet guided along said guide portion is discharged through said outlet; and operating means for operating said closure means. Y

Y 7. In an apparatus of the type described, in combination, rotary transporting means for transporting a flexible resilient record sheet tending to assume a straight posipredetermined distance so that the'leading and trailing tion; drive means for rotating said transporting means in one direction of rotation; guide meansincluding a pair of axial spaced guide rings, each guide ring having an arcuate guide face surrounding atleast an axial section of said transporting means, said arcuate guide faces being spaced in radial direction from said rotary transporting 'means ,a predetermined distance so'that the leading and trailing edges Aof a transportedV recordsheet engage said guide faces duringY rotation of said transporting means while being jslightly spaced apart-whereby said record sheet is bent into a curved position,YV ,each guide facehaving an inlet for record sheets, and an outlet for record sheets, said outlets being spaced in direction of rotation of said transporting means, said guide means further including an elongated element flush with said guide face, said elongated element extending substantially in axial direction of said transporting means inclined to the axis of same and having one end located forwardly and the other located rearwardly in direction of rotation of said transporting means, said elongated element having said ends located forwardly of said outlets and adjacent to same in direction of rotation of said transporting means; closure means located at one of said outlets and having a guide portion, said closure means and said guide portion having a closed position in which said guide portion is spaced in radial directon said predetermined distance from said transporting means and is ush with said guide face and continues the same in said outlet closing the same so that in said closed position of said closure means a record sheet fed through said inlet is repeatedly moved by said transporting means along said annular guide face and said guide portion, said closure means and said guide portion being movable to a discharge position in which said guide portion is located substantially in a tangential plane with respect to said guide face whereby a transported record sheet guided by said guide portion and by said elongated element is discharged through said outlet; and operating means for operating said closure means.

8. In an apparatus of the type described, in combination, rotary transporting means for transporting a flexible resilient record sheet tending to assume a straight position; drive means for rotating said transporting means in one direction of rotation; guide means including an arcuate guide face surrounding at least an axial section of said transporting means, said -arcuate guide face being spaced in radial direction from said rotary transporting means a predetermined distance so that the leading and trailing edges of a transported record sheet engage said guide face during rotation of said transporting means while being slightly spaced apart whereby said record sheet is bent into a curved position, said guide means having 4an inlet for record sheets, and an Ioutlet for record sheets; closure means located at lsaid outlet and having a guide portion, said closure means and said guide portion having a closed position in which said guide portion is spaced in radial direction said predetermined distance from said transporting means and is Hush with said guide face and continues the same in said outlet closing the same so that in said closed position of said closure means a record sheet fed through said inlet is repeatedly moved by said transporting means along said annular guide face and said guide portion, said closure means and said guide portion being movable to a discharge position in which said guide portion is located substantially in a tangential plane with respect to said guide face whereby a transported record sheet guided along said guide portion is discharged through said outlet; operating means for operating said closure means; a feeding channel means located opposite said inlet for guiding record sheets for said inlet; va discharge channel means located opposite of said outlet for guiding discharged record sheet; a rotary transporting roller projecting into said feeding and ejecting channel means; a feeding roller movable between an inoperative position and an operative position cooperating with said transporting roller for feeding record sheets to said inlet; and means for operating said feeding roller between said positions of the same.

9. In an apparatus of the type described, in combination, rotary transporting means for transporting a flexible resilient record sheet tending to assume a straight position; drive means for rotating said transporting means in one direction of rotation; guide means including an arcuate guide face surrounding at least an axial section of said transporting means, said arcuate guide face being spaced in radial direction from said rotary transporting means a predetermined distance so that the leading and trailing edges of a transported record sheet engage said guide face during rotation of said transporting means while being slightly spaced apart whereby said record sheet is bent into a curved position, said guide means having an inlet for record sheets, and an outlet for record sheets; closure means located at said outlet and having a guide portion said closure means and said guide portion having a closed position in which said guide portion is spaced 4in radial direction said predetermined distance from said transporting means and is ilush with said. guide face and continues the same in said outlet closing the same so that in said closed position of said closure means a record sheet fed through said inlet is repeatedly moved by said transporting means along said annular guide face and said guide portion, said closure means and said guide portion being movable to a discharge position in which said guide portion is located substantially in a tangential plane with respect to said guide face whereby a transported record sheet guided along said guide portion is discharged through said outlet; operating means for operating said closure means; feeding means for feeding a record sheet through said inlet to said transporting means; and actuating means for actuating said feeding means and including a member located adjacent said outlet and adapted to be actuated by a partly ejected record sheet so that a newly fed record sheet is fed with its leading edge directly following the trailing edge of the discharged record sheet.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 and including stop means mounted on said guide means adjacent said inlet and being movable from a normal position to a blocking position blocking said inlet, said stop means being adapted to move from said normal position to said blocking position when engaging a transported record sheet for preventing feeding of a record sheet while the trailing end of another record sheet is located opposite said inlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,253,052 Schubert et al. Aug. 19,- 1941 2,394,577 Wise Feb. 12, 1946 2,431,360 Philpott Nov. 25, 1947 2,451,080 Finch et a1. Oct. 12, 1948 2,672,346 Roberts Mar. 16, 1954 2,729,453 Camras Jan. 3, 1956 

